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The United States government issued a level 2 advisory for those traveling to the United Kingdom over possible terrorism. Keep reading to learn how to protect yourself.
U.S. travelers going abroad might be surprised by what they see on the Department of State’s travel advisory for the United Kingdom.
The popular destination is designated as Level 2, which means travelers should “exercise increased caution.” The level was reissued on May 8 after a review.
The State Department’s rankings begin at Level 1, which indicate travelers should “exercise normal precautions,” and go up to Level 4, which means “do not travel.”
What do the advisories issued by the U.S. Department of State mean?
Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions)
Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution)
Level 3 (Reconsider Travel)
Level 4 (Do Not Travel)
The reason given for the UK’s level 2 classification is the threat of possible terrorism.
“Terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in the United Kingdom,” the advisory states. “There is also risk of isolated violence by dissident groups in Northern Ireland, focused primarily on police and military targets.”
The 2023 Counterterrorism Report spotlighting the UK said there were two terror attacks in the UK, with one in Northern Ireland. “On March 28 the Northern Ireland threat level—set separately from England, Scotland, and Wales—was raised from ‘substantial’ to ‘severe,’ indicating a terrorist attack was classified as ‘highly likely’ rather than ‘likely,’” the report states. “However, there were no security-related deaths in Northern Ireland in 2023, the first time for a calendar year since records began in 1969.”
The Level 2 ranking is not new, and does not mean that U.S. travelers should avoid the UK or consider it off-limits. Instead, it just alerts travelers to be more vigilant in public places and more aware in areas frequented by tourists. Travelers to Northern Ireland should also be aware of the specific situation in that part of the UK.
The U.S. travel advisory recommends travelers enroll in STEP, the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, and prepare a contingency for emergency situations. The UK country information page can sometimes have additional information that travelers should be aware of in the country, including that U.S. citizens now need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) prior to travel.
